Colt Lyerla

Lyerla joined the Packers as a rookie free agent that went undrafted due to lengthy character concerns. Nonetheless, at 6-4, 242 pounds with a 4.61 40 time, Lyerla is regarded as a "physical marvel" t...

Lyerla's checkered past kept him off the board during the recent NFL draft, but the Packers handed him an opportunity for a roster spot during this weekend's rookie tryouts. Clearly, the exceptional athleticism displayed prior to his ouster from Oregon's football program last October shined through, and his presence likely represents the team's top talent in terms of size and speed (6-4, 242 with a 4.61 40 time). He brings along considerable baggage, including an arrest for cocaine possession shortly after his dismissal last fall, but after racking up 16.8 YPC and 11 touchdowns during his first two collegiate seasons, he holds the ability to be an instant success, if he avoids off-field concerns.

2/22/2014

Lyerla ran the 40-yard dash in 4.61 seconds at the NFL Combine.

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Lyerla is a former top recruit and a budding star for the Oregon Ducks before a variety of personal issues wrecked his college career. He was arrested for cocaine possession in October of 2013, not long after he left the Oregon program following a public dispute with coach Mark Helfrich. Lyerla has some serious questions to answer regarding his character and off-the-field habits, and it's not clear whether the NFL considers him worth the risk of a draft pick. Da'Rick Rogers was a similarly elite talent at receiver a year ago, without the obvious drug concerns, and Rogers went undrafted. At 6-foot-4, 242 pounds with 32 and 3/4-inch arms, Lyerla's size-speed combination makes him a standout receiving threat as an NFL prospect. He caught 11 touchdown passes while going for 539 yards on just 32 catches in his first two years at Oregon, good for an average of 16.8 yards per catch, so his upside is certainly tempting.